Collapsible hat box



Sept. 30, 1958 L. K. DI PADOVA COLLAPSIBLE HAT BOX Filed Feb. 11, 1957 m M m w INVENTOR. LUCY K D/ PHDovH United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE HAT BOX Application February 11, 1957, Serial No. 639,551

4 Claims. (01. 150-1 My invention relates to collapsible containers and is directed particularly to a collapsible container suitable for carrying and protecting hats and the like objects.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a container for hats which can readily be assembled from pre-formed parts that can be shipped flat, whereby large quantities can be transported from place to place with minimum shipping space requirements.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a container of the character described which is comprised of a flanged circular bottom member, a circular side wall member connectable at its lower end with the bottom member, and a fabric bag adapted to receive the bottom and side wall members and provided with a top drawstring actuated closure portion operative as the top of the container.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a collapsible container of the above nature wherein the fabric enclosure bag is entirely separable from the rest of the container and independently serviceable as a general purpose bag suitable for carrying groceries, clothes or toilet articles, for example.

Another object of my invention is to provide a collapsible container of the above nature which is simple in construction, easy to assemble and disassemble, low in cost, and highly attractive in appearance.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of an assembled hat box embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top view of the hat box shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line of 33 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrow,

Fig. 4, is an elevational view of the side member comprising the hat box illustrated in Figs. 1-3, shown in its fiat condition for shipping or storage prior to assembly, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the bottom member of the hat box illustrated in Figs. 1-3, also shown in flat condition for shipping or storage prior to assembly.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral designates generally an improved hat box constructed in accordance with the invention. The hat box 10 is comprised of a bottom member 11, preferably of cardboard, a side member 12 of the same material, and a fabric bag 13. The bottom member 11 (see Fig. 5), is circular in shape and is provided about its periphery with a plurality of equidistantly spaced V-shaped cut-outs 14 forming a plurality of tabs 15. The bases of the tabs 15 lie along a circular score line 16 concentrically cut in the bottom member 11, facilitating bending said tabs upwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 3, when assembling the container.

The side member 12 (see Fig. 4) is rectangular in shape and provided at one end with a vertical slit 17, and at the other end with a tongue 18 of substantially the same length. The ends of the slit 17 terminate in small circular openings 19, and the tongue 18 is slightly rounded at its outer corners, as indicated at 20, whereby said tongue may readily be inserted in said slit when the side member 12 is bent in a circle about the bottom member 11, when assembling the box, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The fabric bag 13 is preferably constructed with a circular bottom 21 of substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the assembled side member 12, so as to snugly receive the assembled bottom member 11 and side member 12, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The bottom 21 of the fabric bag 13 is cylindrical in shape and is provided with a pair of drawstrings 23, 24 counteracting in a pair of loops 25 at the upper peripheral end of said body. The fabric bag body 22, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, is of such length as to enable the box to be neatly closed as illustrated in Fig. 2, when the drawstrings 23, 24 are pulled outwardly against each other. The box can be opened simply by pulling apart the central gathered neck at the top of the fabric bag.

It is to be noted that since the fabric bag 13 is not attached in any way to the bottom member 11 and the side member 12, it can readily be removed and used separately as a loose, general purpose carrying bag when the cylindrical hat box is no longer needed. My invention thus, besides having the above mentioned advantages of being inexpensive, easily shipped and readily assembled, is also practical and economical in that the fabric bag can be used long after the hat box has served its particular purpose.

While I have shown and described herein one embodiment of my improved collapsible hat box in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact form disclosed, but that changes may be made therein, within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a collapsible container, the combination comprising, a flat bottom member, means peripherally arranged about said bottom member and bendable upwardly to provide a peripheral upstanding flange, a rectangular wall member bendable into a form surrounding the periphery of said bottom member, means for connecting the lateral ends of said wall member together for holding said wall member in formed condition, a fabric bag operative to receive and snugly embrace said bottom member and said wall member in bent condition to provide a container, and means in the top of said bag for enclosing the top of said bag about the top of said wall member for closing the container.

2. In a collapsible container for hats and the like objects, the combination comprising, a flat circular bottom member, means peripherally arranged about said bottom member and bendable upwardly to provide a peripheral upstanding flange, a flat rectangular wall member bendable into circular form fitting about the peripheral flange of said body member, means for interconnecting the lateral ends of said wall member for holding said wall member in circular form, a fabric bag for receiving and snugly embracing said bottom member and said wall member in bent and interfitted condition to provide a container, and means in the top of said bag for enclosing said bag about the top of said Wall member for closing the container thus formed.

3. The collapsible container as defined in claim 2 wherein said flange providing means comprises a plurality of V-shaped cut-outs defining a plurality of tabs along the periphery of said bottom member, and a cir- Patented Sept. 30, 1958 3. cular concentric score line impressed in said bottom member, the bases of said tabs lying substantially along said score line. Y

4; The collapsible container as defined in'claim 2 wherein said interconnecting means comprises a vertical slit in one end of said side member and a tongue in the other end of said side member, said tongue being insertable in said slit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Colgate Nov. 12, 1912 Hazelton May 11, 1915 Meyerhoff Dec. 16, 1919 Jakobson June 15, 1920 Powell Mar. 30, 1937 Ringler July 24, 1956 

